Meatloaf with Oatmeal?

Our themed dinner group is doing comfort foods this weekend. Our hostess handed me a "classic" meatloaf recipe that calls for oatmeal and tomato juice. I've never put oatmeal in a meatloaf and never even heard of using tomato juice. (My usual recipe calls for bread crumbs and lots of finely chopped veggies.)

What I'm wondering is whether this is a regional difference. She grew up in Illinois, while I'm from the north east. Any thoughts?